Rubber valve stem



` Feb. 18, 1941. o. w. HosKlNG RUBBER VALVE STEM Filed 061:.` 27, 1936 ATTORNEY'.

Patented Feb. 1s, 1 941 'fria corporationof Ohio This invention-relates to afvalve stem for inflatable articles, as forexa'mple pneumatic tire l tubes, and particularlyto al valve stem formed of molded'l rubber and having arranged. therein l a metal valve receiving insert or sleeve.

An object of .the invention is to provide a rubber valve stem which is so constructed that the metalvalve receiving insertor sleeve is mechanically,'firmly and permanently secured therein in l0 `air sealinglrelationship and without reliance upon adherence between the stemv and insert, such as is secured by vulcanzation and the like.

Another object is to'provide a rubber valve stem of such construction that the danger of the metal valve receiving insert blowing out of the stern under air pressures is obviated.

Another object is to` provide a` rubber valve stem which is so constructed that various forms of valves may be employed therein, as for example any conventional form of valveinsides or core maybe used therein, or a valve which seats against an integral part of the stem acting as a valve seat may be usedtherein.

Another object is to provide a metal valve re- I ceiving insert or sleeve `for a rubber valve .stem construction which canvbe readily varied in length for valve stems of vdifferent length. Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specifically referred to will become apparent hereinafter during lthe following detailed description lwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a valve stem embodyingthe invention and on an enlarged scale, a conventional form of valve insides or core being shownas arranged in the metal valvereceiving insert or sle'eve.

Fig. 2 is a view similarl to Fig. 1 but shows a valve mechanism mounted in the metal` valve receiving insert or. sleeve with the valve thereof seating against an integral part of the stem.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

45, Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the metal valve receiving insert or sleeve with portions thereof broken away andshown in section, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

A valve stem embodying the present invention is formed of molded rubber and comprises a stem portion III and a base portion Il which is vul-V canized to the iniatable article to which the stem is applied. A metal4 valve receiving insert or sleeve is molded in the stem and comprises 2.2324530 1 .RUBBER VALVE. S'TEM alsleynW. losk'ving, Monroe, N. Y., Dill Manufacturing `Company,Chavela .y n Application October 27, 1936, Serial 11l claims. vv(01.251-158)Y seat 24;

two separable, members ,i2 nu is; "when the valve stemis ra Vshort stem,` only the member I2 need be employed asthe .insert or sleevein the stem, ybut when thevalve stem is. a long stem', the member I3 risv telescopedupon the enlarged end 5 IZa .of the member I2 until the end of said memmer seats.. against .l an Ainternal v'shoulder I3a formed Within4 the memberv I3` as shown in,V Fig..4.

The centralportion of the member I2 is kpro l0 vided with a bore I4 that communicates with a counterbore I5 in the enlarged portion I2a of the member, the wall of said counterborepreferably being provided .with annular grooves and ribs. An annular flange I6 projects downward- 15 ly from the central portion of the member I2 and into the counterbore I5. The member I2 `beyond its central portion is provided with an exteriorly threaded nipple `I'I that has a` threadedl bore I8. The bore I4 in the central portion of thev member 20 and the threaded bore I8 in the nippleI'I of the member arev in communication by 4a tapered bore I9. The `member I2 adjacent the junction between the nipple I 1 and the centraljportionv thereof is provided exteriorly Vwith a ferrule 2 shaped portion 20 that embraces the outer end of the rubber stem I Il,aswill laterbe referred to.

The lower end of the enlargedportion I2a of the member I2 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 2| which, 430 when the member I3 is telescoped upon the said. end of the member I2, lie in alignment or partial alignment`with a similar `series of openings 22 formedin'the member I3adj`acent its end, as clearly shown in Figga. The member I3 is also provided with a` series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots 23.

The rubber .stern III is molded on the metal valve receivinginsert or sleeve with aportion of the stem locatedwithin the metal insert'or sleeve 40 below the flange Il thereoil and said portion is provided witha bore. [0a and a bore lub con-Jl nected by a restricted passage Ille that termi-v nates at the end of the bore Ilb'in a tapered Cal It will' be `seen thatwhen the rubber stern is .molded onV the valve receiving sleeve or insert the-rubber will flou/'through the openings 2l in the member I2 and the openings 22 and slots 23 in the member I3 andjin ellect,` mechanically 50 unite the stem tothe metal insert, thus forming a secure and 4 permanent connection therebetween, without reliance upon adherence as would be the case were the 'stem merely vulcanized to the rubber insert. This construction.v possesses 55 the: decidedz advantage that all danger is obvi-A atedl. oiithea insert being forced or blown out: of.' the:` due: tof: air pressures in the article tm which: thee isfattached. likewise it will: bethat; this rubber of the stem nils the groovesini the: counterbore Il ofl the member: i-I and extends,y between the i'iange Il and the wall. o1` thecounterbore, thus further providing for a, secure*4 connection between .the insert and stem.

The fact that'. the metali valve receiving insert or sleeve is embedded in the rubber stem for a portionv` ot its: length,-that is, the rubberv of the stem. is located'. both exteriorly and interiorly of the insert' or sleeve, eliminates the likelihood of. air escaping; between the insert and stem. Ihe air would have to work around' the insert starting from the flange. Il and it will readily be seen thatits path would be so long and tortuous that escape-'by' this: route would be impossible.

"lhe insert; imparts. to the rubber stem sumcient` strength to. assure against the stem ballooning" or bulging under air pressures.

In order to= provide a symmetrical appearance to the: stem, the outer end thereof is tapered, as clearly illustrated, and. the extreme end oi' the rubber stem extends between the ferrule 20 and the main portion" of the member I2, thus protecting the outer end o t the rubber against damage by the valve cap. or by the air chucks of air lines.

It will be noted that the mechanical connection between the stem and the insert occurs at the portion o! the stem of greatest thickness, wherefore a large amount o! rubber forms this mechanical connection and the same thus possesses thev requisite strength to securely maintain "the insert in position in the stem. Not only does the connection between the insert and the stem adequately provide against the insert being blown from the stem, but, since no reliance is placed upon adherence between the rubber and the metal of the insert, any desired and suitable metal can bel used iorlthe insert. In vulcanizing rubber to metal diillculty has been experienced in obtaining the necessary adherence Ibetween the metal and the rubber, andthe present construction eliminates this dimculty altogether.

In addition to avoiding the necessity of having the rubber of' the stem adhere to the metal insert, the present construction possesses the *further advantage that other conventional forms of valve insides or cores can be used therein or, if desired, a valve may be used therein which seats against an integral part of the rubber stem acting as a valve seat. Therefore,'rubber valve stems embodying the present construction may be said to be susceptible of universal use.

As illustrative of this phase of the invention,

"reference will mst be made to Fig. l wherein a valve insides of usual and conventional form is employed with the valve stem. Asis well known" in the art, this valve insides comprises a threaded Dlugand bridge portion 2l that'is swivelly con'- nected to a barrel 2| having adjacent one of its ends a tapered gasket carrying portion 21 while its oppositeend acts as a seat for the valve 2l.

`A valve pin 29 projects through the plug and barrel and has iixed thereto the valve 2l which seats against the lower end of the barrel. Below the valve 22 a valve spring Il is mounted on the pin and said spring at its lower end abuts an abutment member'li slidably associated with the `valve'pin and acts to constantly urge the valve 2l against its seat.

This form ci valve insides is well known and Ramadan reference t .=l"lg.A il will indicate how the insides ispositioned within the valve stem by screwing the: plug; 2l: into the nipple I1 0I: the insert until, rthe gasket; portion. 2.1.' of the barrel is brought into` a-` ti'ght fitin the tapered passage it. in the insert while the: abutment member Il is brought into. engagement they shoulder at the lower end ot the: bore tlin the valve stem.

Other types of conventional valve insides or cores such as those wherein the valve springv is mounted above the plug or those' wherein the valve spring is housed within the barrel can be just as readily employed in the valve stem o! the present construction.

It has been proposed to eliminate the use of valve insides or cores in rubber valve stems and to employ in such stems a valve that seats against an integral part oi' the stem. The valve stem of the present invention can also be employed with this last mentioned type of valve as reference to Figs. 2 and 5 will clearly show.

The valve in this instance comprises an elongated metal barrel n having diametricauy opposed slots 32 formed therein, and provided at its outer end with an externally threaded enlarged portion 34 similar to the'plug portion 2l in the usual valve insides, previously referred to. Ihe valve pin I extends through the barrel 22 as clearly shown in Fig. 5 and is provided at its lower end with a conical valve head 26, a coil spring 3l located within the barrel 32 and acting against an abutment lug Il on the pin serving to normally urge the pin and valve head inI la valve seating direction.

When this form oi valve is used in the valve stem of the present construction it is positioned within the insert from the outer end thereof and the threaded portion 34 screwed into the threaded nipple il until the lower end of the valve head engages the shoulder at the lower end of the bore Ina in the rubber stem. The valve pin may then be depressed to force the valve head through the restricted passage I0c in the stem, it being understood that the walls of said passage will yield sufficiently to allow the valve head to pass therethrough, after which the portion 34 is screwed further into the nipple l1 until the valve head 36 has passed entirely through the restricted passage loc. When the valve has thus been positioned, the spring 31 will act to hold the valve head firmly against the tapered seat 24 formed in the valve stem to thus seal against the passage of air through the stem. 'I'he valve 36 may be unseated by depressing the valve pin 35 when it is desired to inflate or deilate the article to which the stem is attached.

The last described form of valve can be removed i'rom the stern by unscrewing the portion 34 thereof from the nipple l1 and, oi' course, when this is done the valve head I. is forced through the restricted passage lic in the rubber stem.

It will be understood that although the valve head 2| can be vforced through the restricted passage Ic in the stem in order to mount the valve or to remove the same from the stem, nevertheless the thickness of the rubber stem adjacent the tapered seat 2l and also the fact that the metal insert is arranged therein at this point give sumcient rigidity to the tapered seat to withstand in use the pressure of l the valve head thereon. f

In the'event that the tapered seat 24 should become worn, or it should otherwise be undesirable to employ the last described form oi' valve be molded inthe stem portion of a rubber valve Wthough et preferred embodiment "df the n' it shpuidbefehdeistcod that 'meier/entren is Having thus described 'my invention, I fclairn` l. 1. A metal` valve receiving insert 'adapted` to stem and comprising two separable tubular portions having telescopic engagement whereby the length -of the insert can be varied to enable its use in rubber valve s'tems of diierent lengths.

2. A metal valve receiving insert adapted to be molded in the stem portion of a rubber valve stem and comprising two separable tubular portions having |telescopic engagement whereby the length of the insert can be varied -to enable its use in rubber valve stems of diierent lengths, each of said tubular portions being provided with openings through which the rubber of the stem yln which it is molded can extend.

3. A rubber valvestem comprising a stem portion and a base portion, and a tubular metal insert mounted in the stem portion, the stem for a part of its length lying both exteriorly and in-v teriorly of the insert and having within' the in'- ser-t an integral vvalve'seat, the stem for lthe remainder of its length-.lying only exteriorly of the insert, said insert being provid-ed with means for receiving and retaining therein a valveinsides or core of the type having 'a barrel provided at its inner end with a valve seat and a threaded at- ,taching plug which, by means of a swivel, is associated with lthe outer end of lthe barrel, a valve pin extending through said plug and barrel and provided with a valve engaging the seat on the inner end of lthe barrel or for retaining and receiving therein a valve mechanism the valve of which seats against said integral' seat in the stem,

4. A rubber valve stem comprising a stem portion having a bore therethrough and provided with an integral rubber valve seat, a metal valve receiving insert in said stem and having' an in-` ternally threaded portion and a portion inwardly of the threaded portion shaped so as to adapt it to receive a valve insides or core of the type havingv a barrel shaped to cooperate with said last named portion and provided on its inner end with a valve seat, a threaded attaching plug which, by means of a swivel, is associated with the outer end of said barrel and adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded portion. a valve pin extending through said plug and barrel and provided wi-th a valve engaging the seat on the end of the barrel or for receiving a valve mechanism mounted in said stem and comprising a barrel having an externally threaded portion screwed into the threaded portion of the insert, a ,valve seating against said ln'tegral valve seat, and |a valve pin connected fto said -valve and a valve seat, a threaded plug which, by means of a swivel, is associated with the outer end of the barrel and a valve pin extending through said Iand inwa-rdlyf` of@` said llportion wh Y lvalveinsides and an internally H ventionha's been illustrated and describedfherein; f1 whereby-.Said wvalve insidesa-Oraicqreqwn `tained in said insert or a valve mechanism ca. susceptible; of variousmodifications andl adapta-7"l tions" within" the scope of the -aprender einmal# against-sama integral seat-af valve, 'je

barre .and v gaging tl'ief-seatyon` thetinnerf end rea be eretained therein, the valve t o f which seats f 6.#A rubbercvalveystem comprisinga e por fftion having a bore therethrough-,warmetal valvegfl receiving =insertiextending into, sa'iclf, bore from the outer Vend of said stem,.means providing a valve seat intermediate the ends of the said stem, said insert having an internally threaded portion and a por-tion inwardly of the threaded portion l5 shaped so as to receive a valve insides or core of the type having a barrel adapted to cooperate with said last named portion and provided on its inner end with a valve seat, a threaded` plug wlhich, by means of a swivel, is associated with 20 the ou'ter end of said barrel and adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded portion, a

valve pin exten-ding through said plug and barrel and provided with a valve engaging the seat on the end` of the barrel or for receiving a valve mechanism mounted in said stem and comprising a barrel having an externally threaded portion screwed into the threaded portion of the insert,

a valve seated against the valve seat formed intermediate the ends of the bore in .the valve stem, and a valve pin connected to said valve and extending through said barrel.

7. A valve' stem comprising a rubber body portion provided with a longitudinal passage extend'- ing from base to tip, Isaid passage being constricted intermediate its ends to form a shoulder of the body material facing toward vthe tip of the stem; and a rigid tubular insert mounted in the stem, the rubber of said body portion lying both exteriorly and interiorly of said insert 40 for a port'ion ofthe length of said insert adjacent lthe inner end thereof, said insert having an internally threaded portion and aportion inwardly of the threaded portion adapted to receive a valve insides or core of the .type having a. barrel shaped to cooperate with said last-named p0rtion and provided on ilts inner end with a. valve seat, and having a threaded attaching plug which by means of a swivel is associated with the outer end of .said barrel and adapted to be screwed into said internally threaded portion, a valve pin extending through said plug and barrel provided insert mounted in the tip of the stem, the rubber of said body portion lying both exteriorly and interiorly of said in'sert for ,a portionvof the length of said insert adjacent the inner end thereof, said insert being 4provided with means for receiving and retaining therein a valve insides or core of the type having a barrel provided at its inner v end with a valve seat, land having a threaded attaching plug which by means of a swivel is associated with the outer end of the barrel, a. valve pin extending through said plug and barrel provided with a vlalve engaging a seat on the inner end .of the barrel. and a spring seating against said rubber shoulder facing the tip of the stem for normally urging said valve against said seat, or for retaining and receiving therein a valve mechanism, the valve of which seats against the integral rubber shoulder facing the base o1' said stem.

9. A valve stem as defined in claim 3, in which the embedded portion of the tubular metal in sert extends from above to below the valve seat and substantially to the base.

10. A valve stem as defined in claim 3, in which the interior of the tubular metal insert is provided with projections to interlock with the rubber of the body to form a seal against the escape of air therebetween.

11. A valve stem as dened in claim f7, in which the interior of the insert engaging the interlorly positioned portion of the rubber oi' the body is provided with horizontally extending ribs, said ribs being interlocked with the body p0rtion to form a seal against the escaping of air l0 therebetween.

OAKLEY W. HOSKING. 

